Cameron Mooney

Cameron Mooney (born 26 September 1979) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the North Melbourne and Geelong Football Clubs in the Australian Football League (AFL). A forward, standing at 197 cm (6 ft 6 in) Mooney is renowned for his passion[1] along with his poor tribunal history where he holds the record for the most suspensions in a single season by a VFL/AFL player.[2]

Cameron Mooney
Mooney in July 2011
Personal information
Date of birth (1979-09-26) 26 September 1979
Place of birth Wagga Wagga, New South Wales
Original team(s) Turvey Park (Riverina Football League)
Draft No. 56, 1996 National Draft, North Melbourne
Height 195 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight 99 kg (218 lb)
Position(s) Forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1997–1999 North Melbourne 011 00(2)
2000–2011 Geelong 210 (295)
Total 221 (297)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2008 Dream Team 1 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2011.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Mooney was selected in the 2007 All-Australian Team, and was part of Geelong's AFL premiership-winning team in the same year. He also represented the Dream Team state team in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match in 2008, as well as being the leading goalkicker for Geelong in 2007.

Early life

Mooney grew up in suburban Wagga Wagga with his brother Jason Mooney, attending Mount Austin High School in his teens. He began playing football with Turvey Park Football Club, later representing the NSW/ACT Rams in the TAC Cup before being taken by the Kangaroos with the 56th pick in the 1996 AFL Draft.

Career

1999: Kangaroos

Mooney made his AFL debut with the Kangaroos during round 7 of his first AFL season against the Adelaide Crows. That year, he was a member of the Kangaroos premiership team which defeated Carlton. However, he did not receive a single touch in this game and spent a large portion of the game on the bench.

2000: Trade to Geelong

At the end of 1999, Mooney was part of the trade which saw former Geelong captain, Leigh Colbert head to the Kangaroos, allowing Mooney to end up at Geelong. He was traded along with the 53rd and 67th selection in 1999 AFL Draft. This season also saw a Kangaroos assistant coach, Mark Thompson, take up the head coaching job at Geelong.

2004 – 2005

Following four unproductive years off the field, Mooney blossomed in 2004, subsequently catapulting Geelong to premiership contention. In 2005, Mooney's year was interrupted by injury. However, he destroyed Melbourne in the elimination final. The defining snapshot of Mooney's career was after the siren in the semi-final against the Sydney Swans where Geelong lost by 3 points after Nick Davis goaled for Sydney with 2 seconds remaining giving the Swans their first and only lead of the entire game. Mooney was gutted by the result and was openly distressed and weeping.

2006: Suspensions

Mooney in 2006, after the heartache of 2005, experienced the relative joy of a pre-season premiership. However, his premiership season was not as fruitful. He was suspended, as well as his 100th game resulting in a loss. Geelong lost this game despite leading the West Coast Eagles by 54 points in the third quarter. Mooney was suspended on four separate occasions in 2006, leading to the club fining him week's wages. This lack of discipline was seen as detrimental to the team despite Mooney's good form. At the end of 2006 season Mooney also requested to be traded to another club, though he was convinced to stay at Geelong another year.

2007: Premiership glory

Playing permanently in the forward line for the first time, Mooney had an instrumental role as Geelong finished on top of the ladder at the end of the home and away season. Mooney topped the club goalkicking with 55 goals and was awarded with All-Australian selection for the first time. He is seen by some as the heart of the club due to his heart-on-sleeve attitude. Mooney capped off a remarkable season in 2007 kicking 5 goals in the premiership victory over Port Adelaide.

2008: Premiership heartbreak

Cameron Mooney's good form continued in 2008 season, he kicked 15 fewer goals though Geelong won 3 more games and kicked an extra 130 points. Mooney's season turned from memorable to forgettable during the 2008 AFL Grand Final.

Mooney started the match well taking a few early marks and ended the first quarter with two goals including one from a difficult snap from the boundary line. All this early good work fell to pieces at half time, when Mooney who seconds before the siren marked the ball about 5 metres out on a slight angle. He too comfortably walked in to kick the goal and sprayed the ball to the left registering a behind, had he kicked a goal Geelong would have gone into half time with a 2-point lead instead of 3 points behind which they ultimately did.

The second half started just as it ended for Mooney another missed opportunity. This time he was 30 metres out directly in front and missed another vital goal.

Mooney finished the day with 2 goals 3 behinds from a total of 14 disposals, it was a disappointing day for himself and Geelong.

Retirement

After a series of injuries that kept him out of the team, Mooney announced his retirement at the end of the 2011 season.

Mooney made a one off guest appearance for the Glenorchy Football Club in the Tasmanian State League in 2012.[3]

Since 2012, Mooney became a commentator on Fox Footy. He is also on Bounce with Jason Dunstall, Andrew Gaze, Bernie Vince, and Ben Dixon.

Statistics
[4]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1999 Kangaroos 1911232513381430.20.32.31.23.51.30.3
2000 Geelong 21663159241111.00.52.51.54.01.80.2
2001 Geelong 21113243398225150.30.23.93.57.52.31.4
2002 Geelong 211928161267520188191.50.86.63.910.64.61.0
2003 Geelong 2114101483341175580.71.05.92.48.43.90.6
2004 Geelong 2124126228147375116350.50.39.56.115.64.81.5
2005 Geelong 211742184118302101220.20.110.86.917.85.91.3
2006 Geelong 211722817782259124201.30.510.44.815.27.31.2
2007 Geelong 2125673824288330191252.71.59.73.513.27.61.0
2008 Geelong 21245236229116345201242.21.59.54.814.48.41.0
2009 Geelong 2124464222497321178281.91.89.34.013.47.41.2
2010 Geelong 2121363018272254131321.71.48.73.412.16.21.5
2011 Geelong 21898575110836171.11.07.16.413.54.52.1
Career 221 297 208 1815 941 2756 1271 249 1.3 0.9 8.2 4.3 12.5 5.8 1.1

Honours and achievements
Brownlow Medal votes
Season Votes
1999 —
2000 —
2001 —
2002 1
2003 —
2004 3
2005 1
2006 4
2007 1
2008 3
Total 13
Key:
Red / Italics = Ineligible

Team:

  • AFL Premiership (North Melbourne): 1999
  • AFL Premiership (Geelong): 2007, 2009
  • AFL McClelland Trophy (Geelong): 2007, 2008
  • AFL NAB Cup (Geelong): 2006

Individual:

Milestones:

  • North Melbourne:
    • AFL/North Melbourne debut: Round 7, 1999 (vs. Adelaide) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (North Melbourne won by 56 points)
    • Finals debut: Qualifying final, 1999 (vs. Port Adelaide) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (North Melbourne won by 44 points)
  • Geelong:
    • Geelong debut: Round 17, 2000 (vs. St Kilda) at the Telstra Dome (Geelong lost by 24 points)
    • 50th AFL game: Round 4, 2003 (vs. Melbourne) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong won by 46 points)
    • 50th Geelong game: Round 20, 2003 (vs. West Coast) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong drew with West Coast)
    • 100th AFL game: Round 22, 2005 (vs. Richmond) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong won by 1 point)
    • 100th Geelong game: Round 10, 2006 (vs. West Coast) at Skilled Stadium (Geelong lost by 3 points after leading by 54 points in the 3rd qtr.)
    • 150th AFL game: Round 6, 2008 (vs. Fremantle) at Subiaco Oval (Geelong won by 1 point)
    • 150th Geelong game: Round 18, 2008 (vs. Richmond) at Telstra Dome (Geelong won by 63 points)

Tribunal history
Season Round Charge category (level) Victim Result Verdict Ref(s)
2001 1 Striking Michael Gardiner (West Coast) Guilty (lost at tribunal) 2 matches suspension [5]
17 Melee involvement — Not guilty (won at tribunal) — [5]
19 Striking Jess Sinclair (North Melbourne) Guilty (early plea) 3 matches suspension [5]
2003 12 Striking Graham Polak (Fremantle) Guilty (lost at tribunal) 2 matches suspension [6]
2004 18 Rough conduct Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) Not guilty (won at tribunal) — [7]
2005 9 Striking (1) Corey Jones (Kangaroos) Guilty (early plea) 1 match suspension [8]
18 Melee involvement — Guilty (accepted fine) $1,500 fine [8]
2006 6 Contact with face Ben Holland (Melbourne) Guilty (lost at tribunal) 1 match suspension [9]
15 Striking (2) Josh Mahoney (Port Adelaide) Guilty (early plea) 1 match suspension [9]
17 Charging Daniel Pratt (Kangaroos) Guilty (early plea) 1 match suspension [9]
20 Striking (3) Amon Buchanan (Sydney) Guilty (early plea) 2 matches suspension [9]
2008 4 Tripping (1) Leigh Montagna (St Kilda) Guilty (won at tribunal) Reprimand [10]
2009 8 Striking Scott Thompson (North Melbourne) Guilty 1 match suspension [11]

References
  1. McAsey, Jenny (1 October 2007). "Honesty, faith key to year of Cat". The Australian. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  2. "Mooney makes history with fourth AFL ban". The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 August 2006. Retrieved 11 August 2009.
  3. "Mooney pulls footy crowd". ABC News. 30 July 2012.
  4. Cameron Mooney's player profile at AFL Tables
  5. "Tribunal History in Season 2001". AFL Historical Statistics. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  6. "Tribunal History in Season 2003". AFL Historical Statistics. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  7. "Tribunal History in Season 2004". AFL Historical Statistics. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  8. "Tribunal History in Season 2005". AFL Historical Statistics. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  9. "Tribunal History in Season 2006". AFL Historical Statistics. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  10. "Tribunal History in Season 2008". AFL Historical Statistics. Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  11. Matthews, Bruce (18 May 2009). "Strike one, Cameron Mooney". The Advertiser. Retrieved 18 May 2009.
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